Climbers, Barrell Planters and Balconies

Hi new member here,

I registered to basically pick your brains if I may.

I have a first-floor balcony overlooking the front of my house. It looks very drab and basic, and I know it would look fantastic if I can get some climbers growing all over it!

My initial thoughts are honeysuckle, and using a barrel planter (I hear they don't do well in small containers). However, I've tried scouring the internet to find out how they grow (root systems specifically) as I want to get the right size barrel (ie, is taller better, or wider?), to no avail.

Ideally I'd want them to grow all year round and flower, to encourage honey bees and a nice scent (I hear some smell of jasmine?).

The balcony itself is west-facing and gets a lot of sunlight throughout the day.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you! :thmb:

 

You wont get a honeysuckle to flower all year round. Some varieties flower early in the year and some late. A climbing rose would go well in a separate container growing through the Honeysuckle to add an extra splash of colour.

 

Hi Lemming, a name like that on a balcony too, I hope you hold on tight;-)

A member here-Rosa has a lovely blacony garden-a real inspiration. If you choose carefully you can get interest all year round on a balcony garden, different types of climbers grow at different rates and flower at different times.

For a climbing rose you will need at the very least a half barrel, and for the rest it will depend on how large you want them to grow-the bigger the root system the better equipped it is to grow large.

You could always have them climbing up and over the balcony.

For a quick fix trailing nasturtiums are remarkable at how quickly they put on growth-they will need replacing each year but it will give you something to look at whilst your perennial climbers make their way round the place.

Good Luck-I am sure you will get loads of suggestions from the good folk here.

 

Would Jasmine be any good?